Can an MSA be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA statutes where adopted; New York is governed by ESRA (NY Tech Law §301–309). Confirm the transaction is not within statutory exceptions such as wills or certain court filings.

Who can sign for a company?

A person with corporate authority must sign. Check the entity’s formation documents for authorized signatories and ensure the signer’s title is entered in the signature block to evidence authority in disputes.

Is notarization required for an MSA?

Generally no for typical commercial MSAs. Notarization is only required where a statute or the parties contractually require it. State rules vary; confirm if your jurisdiction or the counterparty’s jurisdiction requires notarial acknowledgement for specific clauses.

What authentication level is recommended?

Use email-plus-SMS or higher for commercial agreements; rely on stronger authentication for healthcare or finance contracts. Authentication choice affects evidentiary strength if signature validity is later contested.

How long should we keep executed MSAs?

Retain during the active term plus a post-termination period aligned with regulatory rules: IRS three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer for industry-specific obligations.

What if a signer disputes an electronic signature?

Preserve the platform audit trail (timestamps, IP, authentication logs) and delivery records. These elements, together with clear consent and intent evidence, meet the ESIGN/UETA legal validity test and support enforceability.

Business MSA Setup

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

BUSINESS MASTER SERVICES AGREEMENT SETUP

This Master Services Agreement ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Client Name: and Service Provider Name: .

Parties and Contact Information

Client Primary Contact Client Address Service Provider Primary Contact Service Provider Address

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Service Provider to perform certain professional services as set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider has represented that it has the necessary expertise, personnel and resources to provide such services on the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend for this Agreement to define the general terms and conditions under which specific statements of work may be engaged and executed.

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall provide services described in each Statement of Work (SOW) executed under this Agreement. Each SOW shall reference this Agreement and include deliverables, acceptance criteria and a schedule. Describe the initial scope for setup and onboarding below:

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Service Provider for services performed in accordance with the applicable SOW. Standard payment terms for this Agreement are as follows.

Contracted Amount Payment Schedule Invoice Instructions / Remittance Address

Late payments shall incur interest at the lesser of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month or the maximum rate permitted by law, plus all reasonable collection costs and attorneys' fees incurred by Service Provider.

Late Fee Percentage

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on Start Date: and shall continue until End Date: , unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Either party may terminate this Agreement or any SOW for convenience upon written notice to the other party delivered at least days prior to the effective date of termination. Either party may terminate for material breach that remains uncured for a period of thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach.

Confidentiality

"Confidential Information" means non-public, proprietary or confidential information disclosed by one party to the other under this Agreement, including business plans, pricing, customer information, designs, trade secrets and technical data. The receiving party shall: (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence using at least the same degree of care it uses to protect its own confidential information, but no less than reasonable care; (b) use Confidential Information only to perform its obligations under this Agreement; and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to employees, contractors or advisors with a need to know who are bound by obligations of confidentiality no less protective than those set forth herein.

The obligations of confidentiality shall not apply to information which: (i) is or becomes publicly known through no breach of this Agreement; (ii) is already known to the receiving party at the time of disclosure as evidenced by written records; (iii) is rightfully obtained from a third party without restriction; or (iv) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of or reference to the disclosing party's Confidential Information. Upon termination or expiration of this Agreement, the receiving party shall return or destroy Confidential Information as requested by the disclosing party.

Mutual Confidentiality

Check if confidentiality obligations are mutual between the parties.

Indemnification and Limitation of Liability

Each party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party from and against third party claims arising out of the indemnifying party's gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with performance under this Agreement. Except for liability arising from a party's gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality or intellectual property obligations, neither party shall be liable to the other for consequential, incidental, special or punitive damages. The aggregate liability of each party for claims arising under this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid or payable to Service Provider under the applicable SOW in the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the event giving rise to liability.

Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that State for resolution of disputes arising under this Agreement.

Entire Agreement and Amendments

This Agreement, together with all executed Statements of Work, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals and communications, whether written or oral. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Execution

The individuals executing this Agreement represent and warrant that they are authorized to bind their respective parties to the terms of this Agreement.

Client Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business MSA Setup Is and when it’s used

A Business MSA Setup is a Master Services Agreement prepared and executed to define ongoing commercial terms between a service provider and a business customer. It standardizes scope of work, pricing, intellectual property allocation, liability limits, confidentiality, termination rights, and invoicing procedures so recurring engagements can proceed under one governing contract rather than repeated individual statements of work. The MSA Setup typically includes signature blocks, exhibits (pricing, SLAs), and an execution checklist to ensure all internal approvals, tax forms, and compliance addenda are attached before services begin.

Why a clear MSA Setup matters for business relationships

A well-prepared MSA Setup reduces negotiation time, clarifies responsibilities, and limits exposure by putting standard terms in place once for multiple projects. It also supports faster onboarding, consistent invoicing, and clearer dispute resolution paths for both parties.

Typical organizations and roles that complete an MSA Setup

Both vendors and buyers use a Business MSA Setup: legal, sales, procurement, and operations teams coordinate to draft and approve the agreement before execution.

Sales and account managers — prepare commercial terms and attach pricing exhibits before routing for signature.
Legal and contracts teams — review liability, IP, indemnity, and termination clauses to ensure enforceability.
Procurement and finance — confirm payment terms, tax forms (W-9), and internal approvals to enable invoicing.

For cross-functional adoption, include a single owner for template maintenance and a checklist for required attachments (SOWs, insurance certificates, tax forms).

Step-by-step: preparing and executing a Business MSA Setup

Follow a standard sequence to reduce errors and speed execution.

01

Draft Template: Use a vetted template with standard clauses and editable exhibits.
02

Attach Exhibits: Add SOWs, pricing, SLAs, insurance certificates, and tax forms.
03

Internal Approvals: Route to legal, finance, and executive sign-off before sending.
04

Execute and Store: Sign electronically, capture audit trail, and archive per retention policy.

Configuring an electronic workflow for MSA execution

Define the technical and routing settings before sending to avoid signer friction and missing approvals.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Sequential or parallel based on internal approval flow
Authentication	Email-only, SMS code, or advanced authentication (KBA/2FA)
Template Variables	Pre-fill party names, addresses, effective dates using template fields
Auto-Reminders	Set reminder cadence and expiration to speed completion

Technical requirements for digital signature and storage

Ensure your eSignature platform supports legal compliance, security controls, integrations, and export options.

Security: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 encryption at rest
Compliance: ESIGN, UETA, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA (BAA as needed)
Integrations: CRM/ERP and cloud storage connectors for automatic archiving

Verify platform audit trails, tamper-evident PDFs, and export formats (PDF, DOCX) for legal preservation and downstream systems.

Typical online eSigning flow for an MSA

A reliable eSigning workflow follows predictable, auditable steps.

Upload Document: Sender uploads template and places required fields.
Set Signers: Define signer roles and signing order or parallel signing.
Authenticate Signers: Choose email, SMS, or stronger authentication as needed.
Execute: Signer signs; system issues signed PDF and certificate.

Core elements to include in a professional MSA Setup

Include these six standard components so the MSA functions as a durable, repeatable contract template for future engagements.

Scope and SOWs

A clear master scope plus attachable statements of work that detail deliverables, acceptance criteria, and change control.

Payment and Invoicing

Payment schedule, accepted payment methods, invoicing procedures, late fees, and taxation responsibility.

Intellectual Property

Ownership, licenses, and any developer or contractor assignment clauses for deliverables.

Confidentiality

Nondisclosure obligations, exceptions, and survival periods for sensitive information.

Liability and Indemnity

Caps on damages, carve-outs, and indemnity triggers to allocate commercial risk.

Termination and Transition

Termination rights, notice periods, and offboarding or data return procedures.

Practical tips for accurate and efficient MSA completion

Apply consistent controls and review steps to reduce errors and speed execution.

Use a single maintained template

Limit editing by enabling controlled template fields and a change log to avoid inconsistent clauses across deals.

Pre-attach required exhibits

Include SOWs, pricing exhibits, certificates of insurance, and tax forms to avoid post-signature exchanges.

Set signer authority rules

Require signers to confirm they have corporate authority; maintain a roster of authorized signatories.

Log approvals

Capture routing approvals in the audit trail so internal disputes over authorization are resolved quickly.

Key timing items and typical notice periods in an MSA

Track contractual and administrative deadlines to maintain compliance and preserve remedies.

Effective Date:

The start date that triggers obligations and warranty clocks.

Payment Due Dates:

Invoice terms such as Net 30 determine cash flow and late penalty application.

Renewal Notice:

Mutual renewal or automatic renewal notice periods are typically 30–90 days.

Termination Notice:

Required cure periods and termination notice (often 30 days) for breach-based termination.

Record Retention:

Retention obligations for financial and legal records that affect audits and disputes.

Common risks and penalties from an incorrect MSA Setup

Invalid Signature: May render agreement unenforceable

Incorrect Party Name: Can block enforcement or collections

Missing Tax Forms: Triggers backup withholding or fines

Data Breach Exposure: Regulatory fines and reputational harm

Unclear Payment Terms: Leads to late payments and disputes

Noncompliant Authentication: May fail evidentiary standards in litigation

Frequent preparation mistakes to avoid

Using inconsistent templates across regions which creates conflicting obligations and complicates enforcement in cross-border disputes.
Failing to attach required exhibits so the signed MSA lacks essential pricing, deliverables, or insurance proof used to validate invoices.
Allowing unvetted personnel to sign which risks binding the company without appropriate authority or budget approval.
Relying on weak signer authentication for high-risk contracts, which increases litigation costs if signature validity is contested.

Real-world examples of MSAs executed with electronic workflows

Organizations of different sizes use digital signature platforms to standardize MSA execution and improve turnaround time.

Optica Ventures (COO)

Optica standardized its contract templates and reduced execution steps by routing centralized MSAs for signature.

The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.
As a result, Optica shortened onboarding cycles and ensured each new SOW attached to the MSA executed with a complete audit trail for future reference.

Tech Data (CEO)

A large distributor centralized MSAs and integrated them with ERP to automate invoicing.

Tech Data uses airSlate SignNow to improve our internal and external customer service while increasing our speed to revenue.
Centralized templates and automated routing reduced manual rekeying, improved compliance with procurement policies, and accelerated payment cycles.

Comparing eSignature vendor pricing and core capabilities

Basic vendor feature comparison focused on starting price, trials, bulk send, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope limits to inform platform selection for MSAs.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day trial	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Security and compliance controls to expect from an eSignature provider

Transit Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3

At-Rest Encryption: AES-256

Audit Trail: Timestamps and IP logging

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II

Regulatory Support: HIPAA (BAA required)

Standards: 21 CFR Part 11 support

Frequently asked questions about the Business MSA Setup

Answers to common legal, procedural, and technical questions about preparing, signing, and storing an MSA.

Need help? Contact support

Can an MSA be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally enforceable under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA statutes where adopted; New York is governed by ESRA (NY Tech Law §301–309). Confirm the transaction is not within statutory exceptions such as wills or certain court filings.
Who can sign for a company?
A person with corporate authority must sign. Check the entity’s formation documents for authorized signatories and ensure the signer’s title is entered in the signature block to evidence authority in disputes.
Is notarization required for an MSA?
Generally no for typical commercial MSAs. Notarization is only required where a statute or the parties contractually require it. State rules vary; confirm if your jurisdiction or the counterparty’s jurisdiction requires notarial acknowledgement for specific clauses.
What authentication level is recommended?
Use email-plus-SMS or higher for commercial agreements; rely on stronger authentication for healthcare or finance contracts. Authentication choice affects evidentiary strength if signature validity is later contested.
How long should we keep executed MSAs?
Retain during the active term plus a post-termination period aligned with regulatory rules: IRS three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer for industry-specific obligations.
What if a signer disputes an electronic signature?
Preserve the platform audit trail (timestamps, IP, authentication logs) and delivery records. These elements, together with clear consent and intent evidence, meet the ESIGN/UETA legal validity test and support enforceability.

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